Trunk-strap.



Patented May 28, |90I. 0. A. STDNEMAN lE. F. WHITE.

TRUNK STRAP.

(Application led Jan. 18, 1901-) (No Model.)

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ORVILLE A. STONEMAN AND ERNEST F. WHITE, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

.TRUNK-STRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,884, dated May 128, 1901. Application filed January 18,1901. Serial No. 43,797. (No model.)

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Be it known that we, ORvILLn A. STONEMAN and ERNEST F. WHITE, citizens of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Straps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention aims to render more effective and desirable binders of the trunk-strap Variety and requiring great force to tighten them about the trunk, valise, box, roll, or package. Ease of adjustment as to length and facility of tightening and fastening and unfastening the straps are features sought to be embodied in the article.

In its general make up the strap is provided at its ends with members or complementary parts of a fastener, one member having a lever action and the other member adapted to make detachable connection with the lever member.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a trunkstrap embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the end portions of the strap and the fastener, the parts of the latter being engaged prior to tightening the strap. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the relation of the parts after the lever member has been turned back to tighten the strap and has been secured. Fig. t is a transverse section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The strap l may be of leather, textile, or other flexible material commonly employed in securing trunks, valises, packages, and the like and is adapted to be lengthened and shortened by means of a slide 2, to the middle cross-bar of which one end of the strap is attached, the main portion of the strap passing through the spaces formed at the sides of the middle cross-bar of the slide and over the terminal portion of the strap encompassing the middle cross-bar and attached thereto. This slide is of well-known construction and operation and may be replaced by any means enabling the length of thestrap being varied according to the distance around the trunk, box, or package to be made secure.

The terminal portions of the strap are secured by a fastening composed of coperating parts or members secured thereto. One member or part 3 is of oblong form and operates by a cam-like action and the complementary member or part 4f is adapted to make detachable connection with the part 3. The member or frame 3 is provided at one end with a fulcrum-bar 5, upon which it turns when tightening and loosening the strap, and an engaging bar 6 is located a short distance from'the fulcrum-bar 5 and is adapted to receive the coupling part of the member 4. The end portion of the strap receiving the part 3 is folded upon itself and secured to the body .of the strap, the bight receiving the fulcrum-bar 5. A loop or link 7 is freely slidable between the overlapped parts of the strap formed by folding lthe end portion thereof, the movement being limited by the stitching 8 or equivalent fastening means employed for securing the end portion of the strap when folded upon the body thereof. This loop or link 7 serves to secure the free end of the frame or member 3 after it has been turned or thrown back upon the body of the strap when the latter has been tightened, so as toprevent loosening thereof or casual uncoupling of the members 3 and 4E. A transverse seat 9 is provided at the free end of the member 3 and receives the outer portion of the loop or link 7, so as to hold it in place when engaged with the part 3. The frame or member 3 is composed of side bars l0, bars 5 and 6, and a plate ll, the bar 6 and plate ll being located about in the plane of the outer edge of the bars l0, so as to admit of the side bars embracing the edges of the end portionof the IOO strap to which the member 3 is attached. This construction prevents relative lateral displacement of the free end portion of the member 3 when the parts of the fastening are coupled. The side bars 10 taper slightly toward the fulcrum-bar, which is of advantage in preventing projecting corners.

The member 4 is supported in the bight formed at the opposite end of the strap, and within the spirit of the invention may be attached thereto in any manner. This part 4 is in the form of hook and engages with the bar 6 in substantially the same manner as practiced in coupling a fastening of the hookand-eye type. It is to be understood that the member 3 may be of any formation so long as it can be readily coupled to and disconnected from the part 3.

When fitting the strap so as to encompass the trunk, valise, box, package,or the like, the length is regulated by manipulating the slide 2 in the well-known manner, and after the strap has been passed around the article to be secured the member 4 is engaged with the member 3, which in the present instance is effected by engaging the hook 4 with the bar 6. In order to admit of the engagement of the part 4 with the member 3, the latter must be thrown forward about iuto the position shown in Fig. 2, and after the coupling has been effected the strap is tightened b v throwing the free end of the member 3 back upon the strap and securing it by the loop or link 7. The member 3 constitutes, in effect, a lever and admits of the tightening of the strap by reason of the lever action and the throwing of the member 4 in the rear of the fulcrum-bar 5. When the strap is tightened and secured, the tendency of the plate 3 is to move outward at its free end, thereby holding the loop or link 7 in the seat 9 against accidental displacement. The strap is loosened by pressing upon the free end of the member 3 to unseat the outer portion of the loop or link 7, and when the member 3 is liberated and moved forward the part 4 is unhooked or disconnected therefrom, when the strap may be removed, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A trunk-strap having folded end portions and provided between its ends with means for, lengthening and shortening the strap, a hook supported in the fold at one end of the strap and a frame pivotally mounted in the fold at the opposite end of the strap and provided with a cross-bar to receive the aforementioned hook and comprising side bars to embrace the edges of the folded portion of the strap, and a link applied to the strap a short distance from the fold receiving the pivoted frame and adapted to engage with the free end of the latter to hold the frame upon the strap, substantially as set forth.

2. A trunk-strap having folded end portions, a slide having one of the folded end portions attached thereto and movable therewith for lengthening and shortening the strap, a hook supported in the fold at one end of the strap, a frame having a fulcrum-bar fitted in the fold at the opposite end of the strap and provided with an engaging bar for the aforesaid hook to make detachable conuection with and having a hook at its free end, and a link secured to the strap between folded parts thereof and adapted to engage with the hook at the free end of the pivoted frame to hold it in place, substantially as set forth.

3. In a trunk-strap, a frame comprising side bars, spaced transverse bars, and a plate, the terminal transverse bar forming a fulcru m by means of which the frame is attached to a terminal of the strap, and a hook applied to the opposite end of the strap and adapted to make detachable connection with the intermediate transverse bar of the said frame, substantially as set forth.

4. A trunk-strap having an end portion folded upon itself and secured to the body of the strap, a lever-frame held in the bight of the folded end portion of the strap, a loop or link held between the body of the strap and the folded end portion and adapted to engage with the free end of the said frame, and a cooperating member to make detachable connection with the frame at a point betweenits ends and adapted to be secured to the opposite end of the strap, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we afx our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

oni/ILLE A. STONEMAN. [n s] ERNEST E. WHITE. [L s] Witnesses:

Ro. W. SHUTTICE, L. V. KARN.

IOO 

